5. 8-Fold Path- #5: Pick Your Poison

5 Days. 120 Hours. 7,200 Minutes.

We are close enough now to the AP World History Exam to actually talk about this thing. There is more to this thing than knowing everything that’s ever happened ever…

This may be the most helpful tip (IMO). You will have 55 minutes to answer 55 questions. But, after that you will have a brief break. Then, the other half of the test… THE ESSAYS. Here is where you need to game the system. They give you 90 minutes to write two essays. That’s where the instructions end. Therefore, those 90 minutes are yours. Enjoy them. Use them to your advantage. Here is how you can maximize your score:

1. READ ALL THREE QUESTIONS (DBQ & 2 LEQs, of which you choose one LEQ)Don’t just start on the DBQ. Look at all three. See if they are in English. Is it something you know? Is it something you should know? Either way, look through them and see what they are asking.

2. RANK THE ESSAYSYou’ve read all three. Is there one you think you could do pretty easily? One that is at least somewhat familiar? Hopefully, there will be THREE ESSAYS THAT YOU CAN DO… But, let’s be honest: You could be staring down three essays you think you can’t do… In that case, DO THE DBQ FIRST! The DBQ has been notoriously obscure World History topic (Olympics, Cricket, etc.) You should be able to get some points out of this thing regardless. So, if all else fails… Do the DBQ

3. WRITE THE ESSAYSIf you feel confident about one of the LEQs do it. Both of these essays require you to know history. You have to know the topics or you won’t get the points. If you feel confident here… Write them. If you don't know either LEQ. THEN… WRITE THE DBQ. The DBQ is our home base. You can write this essay. This is testing your historical skills, not your historical knowledge (you do get points for outside information).

For more on the exam itself, including Multiple Choice, SAQ, DBQ, and LEQ; here's the FREEMANPEDIA GUIDE TO THE EXAM